Leaked Rihanna Photo Could Harm Domestic Abuse Victims

Feb. 20, 2009 — -- The unauthorized release of a photo of a battered-looking Rihanna may trigger flashbacks for other victims of assault and could discourage them from reporting abuse, domestic abuse advocates told ABCNews.com.

"For victims who see these kinds of pictures it's all too real," said Bea Hanson, chief programming officer at victim assistance agency Safe Horizon in New York City, who routinely treats women who have endured domestic violence.

"They have a huge impact on women," she said.

The photo, in which the singer's lips appear swollen and her forehead is covered in welts, was first obtained by the entertainment Web site TMZ.com. Since then, several blogs and news agencies, including ABC News, have also published the photograph.

Reportedly taken by police after Rihanna's boyfriend, rapper Chris Brown, allegedly assaulted her on the night of the Grammy awards two weeks ago, the photo has sparked an internal investigation within the Los Angeles Police Department, which released a statement saying that leaks from within the department are considered "serious misconduct" that could result in "termination" for those involved.

But Hanson said she is more concerned about what this leaked photo could mean for other victims of abuse and those who become victims in the future.

One in four women will become the victim of domestic abuse during her lifetime, according to statistics by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eight-five percent of those who are abused are women, according to the same statistics, and an estimated 1.3 million women per year are physically assaulted by their partner.

"Anything can be a trigger for victims," said Hanson. "You can see these types of photos ... and it can trigger memories."

"Seeing pictures like [Rihanna's] can certainly set a victim back in terms of recovery," she said.